Saving Max

Chapter 23

It takes about two hours of watching pointless infomercials on our tiny TV for Caden and I to finally fall asleep, our eyes closing at about four a.m. We're cuddled on the couch, my head resting above his heart, his arms wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly against him, when Max finally emerges from his room.

"Guys!" he whisper-shouts, shoving at Caden's shoulder, moving me in the process, making my tired eyes fly open with alarm. When I see his cute face I instantly calm down, Caden letting out a grumble from behind me, pulling me closer in his grip.

"Morning, Max" I mumble, trying and failing to get myself out of Caden's iron grip. He isn't fully awake yet, and probably doesn't even know what's going on.

With a final huff, I push myself hard against Caden's locked arms that are around my waist, pushing him backwards with my legs, finally managing to get myself out of his grip. Unfortunately though, I fall flat on my face due to the force of my push, making a small yelp fall from my lips as I collide with the hard, wooden floorboards beneath me.

From my place on the floor I can see Caden sit up, slowly stretching his muscled arms, his chest puffing out as he yawns, looking down to me with a confused expression. "What are you doing on the floor, Bell?"

I scoff softly under my breath, pushing myself back to my feet and crossing my arms over my chest as I look at him, all to aware that all I'm currently wearing is his T-shirt. I think about what happened last night and heat instantly rises to my cheeks, but I quickly mask it with a small, pouty glare.

"Oh, I don't know," I shrug, trying to seem as witty as possible. "the floor just looked like it needed a hug this morning."

Max giggles at this, jumping on to the couch next to Caden, the spot that was formerly mine, leaning back as he laughs. Caden smiles at him, ruffling is hair before turning his attention back to me, a lazy smile on his face that makes my heart jump. I'm glad that I can make him happy, even with just a simple glance.

"You wouldn't let go of her." Max says through a laugh, shoving on Caden's arm playfully, making me want to gush about their cuteness. I swear, Caden and Max are the cutest brothers I have ever seen. It's pretty adorable to just watch them sometimes, the sight never failing to bring a smile to my face.

Caden's eyes widen slightly at Max's words, giving me a small, sheepish glance as if trying to say "I'm sorry," making me shake my head as I plop down on the other side of Max, sitting with my legs folded under me so that I'm facing the both of them.

Nobody says anything for a few minutes, all three of us just sharing glances between each other, the only noise in the room is that of some old game show playing on the TV, Caden and I having never turned it off earlier this morning.

Caden is the first to say anything, clearing his throat as he leaves a kiss on top of both Max and I's heads, heading off in to the kitchen. "I'm going to start some breakfast. Maybe you two can try and decide what you want to do today." Caden suggests, pulling out a small frying pan, and the box of eggs from the fridge, placing both right next to the stove.

"So," I turn to Max, his eyes bright as the look at me, his body lazily sprawled over the spot that Caden just occupied, his legs dangling off the edge, hovering slightly over the floor. "What would you like to do today, little man?" I ask, leaning back myself so that I'm half laying down- half sitting up, being careful to keep my legs pressed together.

Flashing an eight-year old: Not a good idea.

"We can just stay here, if you want. I don't mind." Max shrugs, his attention not really on me anymore, but on the TV that's in front of us.